Foreign aid from and to the Middle East remains a significant dimension in the politics and development of the region. For over sixty years, billions of dollars have been channelled to many states in the region to serve multiple purposes. Major aid donors from the region, such as Saudi, Kuwait, Qatari and the Emirati, have played significant role in the aid giving history. Other non-Arab donors, such as the UK, US, Japanese and Scandinavian.etc., contributed significantly to the development of different states in the region, albeit to server donor's own interest.

However, what are the forces shaping Arab aid? And why aid to Arab states have been ineffective despite the fact states such as Egypt, Jordan...etc. have been receiving aid since 1950s? The current Arab uprising proved that aid from the Gulf countries, such as Qatari aid, has been effective in changing domestic realities. Nonetheless, what makes small states such as Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait give aid?

Date: Wednesday 25 January 2012
Time: 4.30-6pm
Venue: KSW.1.04, 20 Kingsway
Speaker: Khalid Almezaini
Chair: Kristian Ulrichsen                 

Khalid Almezaini is a Visiting Research Fellow at University of Cambridge.

Kuwait Research Programme on Development, Governance and Globalisation in the Gulf States public seminar.

Suggested hashtag for this event for Twitter users: #lsekuwaitprogramme

This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For any queries phone and email Ian Sinclair on 020 7955 6639 or i.sinclair@lse.ac.uk|